After witnessing Diablo’s incredible display of power and impeccable speed my amazement slowly became despair as my eyes darted over Zane lying crunched up on the ground. I felt a weight manifest on my shoulders as the air felt thicker and the wind whistled through the air around me causing the trees to create an echoing whoosh sound as everything felt motionless.

I stared onward towards Diablo who was just standing still looking down at Nero’s decrepit corpse. My hair swayed in the wind as I stood still holding my stomach with one arm. It felt like time had froze in that moment. Everything felt discomforting but calming at the same time, it was a weird feeling and I hated it.

After a while I glanced down to the ground, watching the grass dance in the wind as my hair was blown side to side. After a few seconds of staring at the ground I began trying to pull myself back together. I took a deep breath before turning towards Liam, Anthony and another one of our superiors who were sitting with one of the other attackers.

As I hobbled over to them as I noticed Diablo still hadn’t moved. He kept looking at Nero’s corpse as if something was wrong. I didn’t understand the issue. He had won so what was he staring at him for. As I came up to the three of them, I almost collapsed as I tried to sit down on the grass to catch my breath.

“You look beat…” Said Anthony in an emotionless tone.

“Yeah…” I replied as we sat on the grass while the wind whooshed around us.

“He’s dead.” Said Anthony nodding his head over to the man lying on the ground with a slash straight down his back.

“Before he died, he told me where their base was. But I don’t think we will be continuing like this.” Said Anthony in a gruelling tone.

I sat and stared at the ground just ignoring him as I took in the weight of what has just conspired.

Diablo’s heavy footsteps approaching perked my interest as I turned to see him walking over with Zane on his shoulder.

“Is he okay?” I asked nervously.

“He’ll be fine.” Replied Diablo as he softly lay Zane on the floor. “He’s just passed out.”

“And what about the rest of the mission?” Asked Anthony.

Diablo turned around and peered towards the countless mutilated lifeless bodies that were left in heaps behind us.

“We can’t exactly continue with so many casualties. We’ll retreat back to Rien Village and request reinforcements from the city.” Explained Diablo confidently.

“But first we’ll need to identify the bodies. Jace, go check who we lost for me.” Said Diablo to the other superior that was accompanying us.

Diablo stood for a second with his hands in his pockets and watched as Jace ran over to the bodies.

“Okay, next. Does anyone know healing Magicka?” Asked Diablo turning back around to face us.

“Uh, I know a little bit.” Said Anthony standing awaiting further order from Diablo.

“Do what you can for Zane. He didn’t protect himself with Magicka when he was hit so he took a substantial amount of damage.” Said Diablo looking down at Anthony who was kneeling next to Zane looking at his motionless body anxiously.

“I’ll do what I can.” Replied Anthony. “I only took a 2-year course on medical Magic so I’m not that skilled.”

Diablo nodded as Anthony began doing what he could for Zane.

“Next. Liam, I’ll need you to let me know immediately if someone is approaching us. We can’t afford anymore losses.” Said Diablo as continued to watch Anthony care for Zane.

“About that, sir. “ Exhaled Liam nervously.

Diablo perked up and directed his attention to Liam who seemed shaken up.

“I was meaning to tell you earlier but, A 4th person appeared in all of the chaos before.” Said Liam looking down at the floor anxiously.

“What!” Said me and Anthony unanimously while Diablo looked on with a shocked expression.

“It was only for a second, but they appeared. I definitely sensed them.” Explained Liam.

Diablo put his hand on his chin as he started to think intently. Just as Liam said this, Jace made his way back over yelling for Diablo.

“Diablo!” He exclaimed as he came jogging over.

“What is it.” Replied Diablo.

“Paul is missing.” Exhaled Jace as he pointed back to the bodies.

“What do you mean.” I yelled.

“Paul, he isn’t in that pile of bodies. Nor is he over here with us.” Said Jace still panting from running over here.

I stood silently in shock with my mouth hanging wide open just staring at Jace then glancing off into the distance at nothing, trying to wrap my head around everything. Diablo let out a sigh before turning around and facing the distance for a second.

“Okay.” Said Diablo now turning back around to face us. “Liam, can you sense Paul anywhere?”

“No, he’s out of my range.” Replied Liam looking awfully upset.

“Okay. Anthony, did you manage to get him to tell you exactly where their base was?” Asked Diablo.

“Uh, yeah. He gave me directions and mentioned it was in some ancient ruins, Why?” He responded.

“Okay, whoever took Paul must be the same person who took Rejet. The one with the teleportation ability.” Said Diablo.

“You don’t even know if he’s alive or even at this base.” Replied Anthony vigorously.

“If we have the chance to save at least one person we’ve lost, I’m taking it!” Roared Diablo back at Anthony.

Anthony stared at Diablo as silence echoed through the air for a moment.

“Come on Anthony, you’re leading us. Leave Zane to Liam and Jace.” Said Diablo as he begun to turn and walk off towards an exit in the far corner of the open field.

“Jace, take Liam and Zane back to the village. I can’t fight while trying to protect them.”

Me and Anthony stood up and began following Diablo. Leaving Zane and Liam in the hands of Jace.

As we wandered through the forest and Anthony gave us directions on where to go, I couldn’t help but think back to Paul telling me about his family. I hoped with all my heart that he was okay, he is the last person I wished death upon.

After walking down the murky, moss covered cobblestone paths for almost an hour. We finally came across what seemed to be the ruins of an ancient temple. There were cracked stone pillars scattered about the place and old pieces of shattered rock sat idly on the grassy ground.

Just as Anthony said, crumbling stone pillars were scattered around, while the foundation of some form of temple sat idly in the middle of the field covered in rubble. One of the only structures that was somewhat standing was an old looking stone building off to the right.

Diablo eyed up a sharp looking wooden door that lead into it.

“You think that’s the entrance?” I asked Diablo who was surveying the area confidently.

“There’s a high chance.” He said as he walked over towards the door. We followed closely behind and watched as Diablo carefully opened the door and peered into the dark room to see a staircase that led deep underground.

“Alright, you two stay up here and guard the entrance.” Ordered Diablo as he ventured into the room and began descending down the staircase.

As Diablo’s shining white and gold uniform slowly faded down into the darkness of the stairwell I kept watching for a moment as I stared into the darkness, caught up in my thoughts.

“You okay?” Asked Anthony who turned back to me after taking a few steps away from the door to look around.

“Uh, yeah. It’s nothing.” I said as I shut the door and started to approach Anthony who I noticed was standing with his mouth wide open, staring at the roof of the building behind me. I instinctively turned to see a tall man with long black hair, he was wearing a slim fit black suit that was buttoned up with a white undershirt.

He sat on the roof with one leg crossed over the other and stared at us with a malicious grin splattered across his face.

The two of us stood and watched him as he confidently met our gazes and peered down onto us.

“Who are you?” Asked Anthony as he sweat profusely.

There was a moment of silence as the man continued to stare at us until he finally stood up and dropped down onto the grassy plain below.

The air felt thin as his mere presence poisoned the atmosphere and made every breath feel like thousands of little daggers were venturing down my throat. His devilish red eyes pierced through me like a sword as he begun to slowly step forward.

“My name is Anzu Hurr.” He said in an oddly soothing voice as he bowed majestically, introducing himself in an upstanding manner.

The two of us continued to gaze on at him as the atmosphere pulsed around us.

“And you?” Said Anzu in the same confidence radiating tone.

“Shay…” I said as my hand sat twitching on my sword ready to unsheathe it. Anzu then peered over to Anthony and nodded at him.

“I’m Anthony…” He said breathing heavily.

Anzu let out a soft breath as he faced both of us with his cold red eyes and opened his mouth to speak.

“You two… What is it you strive for in life?”

“Romance? Power? Friendship? Something to benefit yourself, or something to benefit another? No matter what it may be that you strive for in life, it amounts to nothing…”

Wind blew swiftly through the air as the two of us were captivated by Anzu’s sudden shift in tone.

“The world around you is poisoned, and yet you haven’t even realised it. The dark shadows that loom through the cities, controlling their people like slaves while they sit on their golden thrones enjoying exotic foods and unlimited entertainment.”

. . .

“You sit and bask in your own pointless affairs allowing these monsters of metaphorical power to corrupt and plague your very lives without even realising it.”

“You dream happy dreams.”

“You think happy thoughts.”

“But reality is reality.”

“And you’ve been lying to yourself.”

. . .

An odd sense of fear and realisation shot through my body as each word pierced my mind. My breathing fell out of control as I thought back to my distant past filled with hatred and betrayal.

“You spend your life dreaming yet you fail to wake up to the real world around you.”

“There are no birds chirping, there is no sun glaring down onto you. What there is, is corruption and if you’re sitting idly and allowing it to happen, then you aren’t worth my time.”

“Those who block out the sinister evil around them and spend their lives lying to themselves, following orders mindlessly without thinking of the consequences.”

“You are just as bad as the ones in charge.”

. . .

“I plan on creating my world, my reality of complete equality.”

“I won’t dream happy dreams, I’ll act.”

“I won’t think happy thought’s, I’ll act.”

“And I won’t sit idly and allow corruption to plague the ones around me… I’ll act!”

“My reality is my reality.”

“And I’ll make it come true.”

. . .

The two of us stared on at Anzu as he confidently displayed his ideology in front of us. His devilish charm swayed me to question my reality. My existence up to this point…

Had I really been blocking out this evil surrounding me. My own selfish desires overwhelming the curse set upon us by the higher powers that control our lives…

Was he right?

. . .

Anzu stared at us for a few seconds while we thought about his foreboding speech. After a minute he expressed a disappointed look on his face before turning around walking away without saying a word.

“Th- This guy is clearly trouble, Shay.” Said Anthony still shaking due to Anzu’s presence. “Get him while he’s turned around.” He whispered.

I stood twitching, hesitating, as I peered into Anzu’s silhouette. Everything apart from him became blurry as my breathing heavied and my head spun.

“Shay, come on!” Nudged Anthony.

“Shay!”

“Shay you bastard come on!”

As Anthony called onto me to do something, I stood frozen, watching Anzu stroll further and further away as I thought about my grandfather’s death, and my sister’s corrupt act of injustice.

Darkness surrounded me as each breath felt like I was filling my lungs with a thick fog. My eyes squinted as I tried to keep watching Anzu.

This isn’t my world? I thought as I felt my stomach drop through my body and ice-cold shivers dashed down my spine.

Just as I felt myself sinking into despair, I felt a hand grab my shoulder and hurl me back into my world as I watched Anthony charge towards Anzu. I opened my eyes again to the world around me as the rays from the sun beamed down onto us, allowing me to see clearly.

I drew my sword and watched as Anthony approached Anzu.

“Wait, Anthony! Don’t just charge in!” I yelled as I ran to back him up. Something just isn’t right about this guy…

I watched as Anthony ignored my yield and swung his sword at Anzu who turned around and lifted his arm seamlessly to block Anthony’s sword, shattering it as he peered at Anthony with a blank face.

I dashed forward to aid Anthony, but it was too late, Anzu shot his fist into Anthony’s abdomen almost folding Anthony completely over as he dropped to the ground.

“ANTHONY!” I cried as my only teammate became immobilised.

I continued to lunge towards Anzu as I shakily swung my sword only for him to dodge effortlessly. I kneeled down next to Anthony who was gasping for air profusely.

“Why the hell did you ignore me…”

“You bastard.” I muttered as I failed to save yet another person.

I angrily stood up and turned my attention to Anzu who was staring down at me with a disappointed expression splattered on his face just like earlier.

His nonchalant staring angered me even more as, without hesitation, I lunged forward to attack Anzu. The closer I got to Anzu the more eager he looked as that malicious grin from earlier slowly emerged on his face.

I screamed menacingly as I drew my sword and swung down on Anzu who dodged my first swing by leaning back hardly making any effort to move more than a few centimetres only to be taken off guard as I sharply swung my sword a second time as Anzu only just managed to dodge by a hair.

As I continued my relentless onslaught of slashes Anzu continued to seamlessly dodge each and everyone until his eager smile vanished and his blank stare of utter disappointment pierced through me.

“You really got my hopes up too.” He said as he sharply took a step back dodging me as I swung my sword down from my left shoulder and was knocked off balance by Anzu who forcefully pushed down on my shoulder with the palm of his hand sending me plummeting towards the ground.

I felt the world around me ring as I felt this screeching electrifying pain soar through me. I knew I could never beat Anzu at hand to hand combat so in a last-ditch effort, I drove my sword into the ground and threw my body weight around spinning my right leg around at Anzu’s face who noticed last second and blocked it with both his arms.

As Anzu blocked my kick and forcefully pushed my legs away he unintentionally spun my entire body around. This rebound sent the front of my body flying towards Anzu at great speed. As I spun towards him, I gripped my sword intently and threw all my force into one final slash against him.

I squinted my eyes as I swung my blade with all my might straight through Anzu’s torso, slashing him into two pieces.

I panted excruciatingly as I slowly eased up and released the grip on my sword.

“I won…” I said still exhaling profusely as I stared at the ground reflecting on that intense encounter. I slowly turned myself around to face Anzu’s body and survey the corpse only to be met with the ruined remains of a stone pillar.

“W- what!” I said out loud as I stepped back staring at the shattered pillar.

“I didn’t cut Anzu?” I said out loud once again as my eyes widened, staring at the rocky rubble on the ground.

“That’d be right, young man.” Spoke his sinister voice from behind me.

I felt a heart electrifying bolt whizz down my spine as fear crawled all around every inch of my body. My muscles began twitching as my breath shortened as I felt my shoulders getting heavier and heavier. His soul piercing presence shot through me like an electric current as his looming shadow devoured me.

This man… Is he unbeatable?